The Music Freaks: Episode 10

Chapter 20 ~ The Micheal Talk

Jake stood still for a few seconds, only moving when Hailey ran up to him. "Hey, Jake." She said, the mere mention of his name causing Micheal to look at them both. "...hey, Hailey..." Jake responded, Micheal walking over to them both. "I'm sorry, I thought he was gonna be working, but he came home early." Haile whispered to Jake before Micheal arrived. "Hey, sweetie. Is it alright if I talk to Jake alone?" Micheal asked, Jake freezing up. He thought it wouldn't be half as bad as long as Hailey was there when Micheal spoke to him, but now he wanted to talk to him alone. Hailey looked at Jake, she wanted to be there for Jake, but at the end of the day, even if she said 'no', it wouldn't matter since Micheal was her father. "...yeah, of course. Cya soon, Jake." Hailey said, giving him a sweet smile before walking away, presumably going to meet with the club in the room they were practicing in. Micheal then turned around and began to walk to a room, Jake following him. They ended up in Micheal and Shannon's room, him closing the door and looking at Jake. "...Jake." Micheal began, sighing. "Hailey has explained to me what happened. You were manipulated by this...Drew, person and some other people. I get that." Micheal told Jake.

"Before I tell you this, understand this is coming from a parent who has heard you insult and exploit my daughter and her stage fright, and has recently find out how much you bullied her and Zander in the past." Micheal said. "After the competition, I want you to leave the club, break up with my daughter and I don't want to see you anywhere near my house. You can practice today, and the only reason you're allowed to stay is because how much this competition means to my daughter. But if I'm feeling generous enough, maybe in a year's time if your still friends with her, I may allow you to date Hailey again. Plus, I've heard of the nice and generous things you've recently done to her, and Zander like what I heard you did for him today. So that is why I'm willing to give you another chance, but not anytime soon." Micheal explained to Jake. He had worked so hard to stay in the club after the competition, and Hailey along with the rest of the club was gonna let him, and he had finally began dating Hailey, it was perfect! But...now all that was going down the shitter. "Do not tell Hailey any of this, it'll only ruin her mood, you can tell her after the competition. She'll hate me for it, but she'll understand eventually." Micheal added, Jake looking down and nodding.

"I understand, Mr Austin...if I was in your place, I- ...I'd probably do the same thing..." Jake said, still looking down. "...Hailey told me something else...Jake." Micheal began, causing Jake to look up. "You were bullied, right?" Micheal asked, Jake tensing up, he hated being reminded, but slowly nodded. "I know what's that like. Happened to me in High school, I know it's a shitt- I mean, bad thing, and it tears you up inside. So, I'm sorry, Jake. I know you probably a nice kid who got attached to the first people who wanted to be his friends, that being this 'Drew' fella, and apparently from what I've heard, he's the one who turned you into a bully." Micheal spoke, sighing. "I know I got attached to the first people who wanted to be my friends, luckily they were nice people...Look, Jake. I feel like I'm being a bit harsh with my punishment towards you, but-" Micheal began before Jake interrupted. "It's fine, Mr Austin. Your just looking out for your little girl, that's all. You don't have to make excuses for me, it's my fault I let Drew turn me into a bully and it's my fault I let Drew manipulate me. Leaving the club and breaking up with Hailey will suck, but, I guess that's what I deserve." Jake said, smiling slightly. "You're a good father, Mr Austin." Jake told Micheal. "Keep looking out for Hailey." He added before leaving the room.

After leaving, he went straight to the practice room and saw everyone all in their special competition outfits. It was safe to say they all looked awesome! Especially Hailey in Jake's personal opinion. When she saw Jake, she ran over to him, smiling happily. "Jake, what do you think?" She asked, Jake smiling in return. "You look- amazing, Hailey!" Jake said, Hailey smiling more at her boyfriend's comment. "Thanks. Do you have the special jacket I made you on you?" Hailey asked, Jake nodding and taking it out of his bag, Hailey grabbing a box with the rest of the outfit and giving it to Jake. "Go into the bathroom in my room, you can change in there." Hailey told Jake, him nodding and taking the outfit, going into the bathroom in Hailey's room. A few minutes later he came out and walked back into the practice room wearing the specialised outfit, his clothes he came in just being in his bag. "Jake! You look awesome!" Milly said excitedly. "Yeah, you look good, Jake." Sean added. "I hope you like it, Jake, I might it myself." Hailey said. "Like it? Hailey, I love it! I'm gonna wear this everyday!" Jake said happily, Hailey smiling warmly in response and hugging Jake. Jake looked at Zander, and while they were now on better terms, it as still clear he wasn't totally on board with him dating Hailey.

Then, they all began to practice, Jake imagining a crowd in front of them, the outfit making him feel even more special and awesome. They continued to practice and practice and practice until they all got worn out. "So, guys. You excited, I mean the competition is tomorrow." Luke said. "Yeah! We're totally gonna win!" Milly responded. "Don't jinx it." Zander added. "C'mon, there's no possible way we could lose. I mean, you guys have me, so instant win right there." Jake said, chuckling slightly. "Yeah yeah, don't get so full of yourself." Hailey said, smiling at Jake still. Just then, Shannon walked in, smiling at them. "Great work guys, your gonna do great tomorrow." She said. "Thanks, Mrs Wickham." Sean said. "Um, Jake, could I talk to you for a sec?" Shannon asked, gesturing him to come outside. Jake, not wanting to be rude, obliged and walked out the room, following Shannon away from the practice room so they could talk in private. "Jake, um, I've spoken to Micheal and he's told me what's going on. And I've convinced him to think about what he's making you do, and he is currently thinking of maybe not making you break up with Hailey or leave the club. Like I said, it's just thinking, I don't know if it's for certain yet, but just know he is." Shannon told Jake. "And, I'm sorry for everything that happened to you." Shannon added, opening her arms for a hug. Jake, despite being surprised, accepted and hugged Shannon.

"Zander told me what you did for him today. I just want to say that was very kind and sweet of you so, thank you, Jake, for making my little boy happy." Shannon told Jake, smiling as she did so before letting go of him and Jake letting go of her. "Thank you for talking to trying to help, Mrs Wickham." Jake said. "Please, call me Shannon, it's only fair after you helped Zander and Luke today." Shannon told Jake, smiling at him still as she walked away. After that, Jake went back to the practice room. "What was that about Jake?" Zander asked. "Nothing." Jake said, Zander rolling his eyes. "Yeah, sure." Zander said. For about the next hour, Jake just stayed in that room and talked with the club, mostly Hailey, until Shannon and Micheal told them it was time to go. Sean and Milly got picked up by their parent like usual, and when Jake got outside and grabbed his bike, he looked at Luke. "You want a ride?" Jake asked, remembering that Luke lived close. "Yeah, sure." Luke said, getting on Jake's bike with him, wrapping his arms around Jake so he didn't fall off as he began to ride his bike back home. Once he made it to Luke's house, he dropped him off. "Cheers, Jake." Luke said, smiling at him as he went inside. "No problem, Luke." Jake said in response, smiling back as he kept riding home, putting his bike in the garage when he got back.

Jake walked into his house, his mom batting an eye at him. "Where did you that outfit?" She asked. "Oh, uh, my girlfriend made it for me, for the competition." Jake said. "Oh, yeah, that's tomorrow isn't it?" She asked, Jake nodding. "Great, can't wait to see you perform, honey." She said, Jake smiling as he went upstairs, seeing Milo sat in the hallway on his phone, looking up to see him. "Where'd you get that cool outfit?" Milo asked. "None of your business." Jake said, walking past him and going straight in his room. "Tch, doesn't matter, doesn't look that cool on you anyway!" Milo yelled, rolling his eyes and going back to his phone. Jake looked at himself in the mirror, smiling as he really did love the outfit and could see that Hailey put a lot of effort into it, including the other outfits as well. Afterwards, he sat down on his bed and took his phone out, messaging Hailey.

Jake:
Hey, Hailey. Just wanted to tell you, really love the outfit, you did great ❤️

Hailey:
Aww, thanks Jake! I'm glad you like it so much :D

Jake:
Yeah. We're gonna totally rock the competition tomorrow! No way in hell we'll lose!

Hailey:
Hopefully!

Jake then put his phone down, smiling to himself, he had done it. In two weeks, he had re-joined the music club, make them realise he was manipulated and have them fully invite him back, and most importantly, date Hailey! It was all just....perfect. But the more he thought that, the more he thought about the competition. Even if they won, which would make him so happy, he knew that unless Micheal changed his mind, he would have to leave the club and Hailey...